Investigating the Anabolic Effect Drugs (Picolinic Acid) on Osteocytes in Vitro

Summary Wnt signalling proteins are small secreted proteins that are active in embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. Wnt proteins bind to receptors on the cell surface, initiating a signalling cascade that leads to β-catenin activation of gene transcription.

Project Details

Wnt signalling proteins are small secreted proteins that are active in embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. Wnt proteins bind to receptors on the cell surface, initiating a signalling cascade that leads to β-catenin activation of gene transcription. Our team has reported that Picolinic acid (PIC), an end product of the tryptophan degradation pathway, has an osteogenic effect on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). However, Osteocytes, >90% of the cells in bone, lie embedded within the mineralized matrix and coordinate osteoclast and osteoblast activity on bone surfaces. In addition, osteocytes as central target cells of the anabolic actions of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling in bone by mechanisms are still unclear. This project is aiming to explore the effect of PIC on human osteocytes in vitro.